Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressed recent speculation about a rift within his cabinet over the caste-based socio-economic survey. On Friday, he clarified that the discussion on the issue was still inconclusive and denied reports suggesting internal opposition within the state cabinet. He told reporters in Ramanagara that the discussion remained incomplete and emphasized that no ministers had voiced aggressive opposition as claimed in the media.
Cabinet Discussion Remains Inconclusive
Siddaramaiah dismissed media reports suggesting internal dissent on the caste survey. He assured that the cabinet discussion on the socio-economic survey did not conclude as expected, with no formal opposition from any ministers. He described these media reports as inaccurate, labeling them as “lies.” According to the Chief Minister, the issue will be further discussed in an upcoming cabinet meeting, and the matter has been deferred until then. This statement came after several reports suggested tensions within the ruling Congress party over the controversial survey, particularly among ministers who are allegedly divided on the issue.
Opposition Criticizes the Caste Survey
While the ruling government continues its internal discussions, opposition parties have strongly criticized the caste-based survey. Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra slammed the Congress-led government, calling the survey “unscientific” and questioning its legitimacy. He accused Siddaramaiah of lacking clarity on the issue and charged the government with moving forward with the survey without a clear mandate. Vijayendra also criticized the government for allegedly wasting over Rs 150 crore on what he termed an unreliable and flawed survey.
He raised concerns about the authenticity of the data, pointing out contradictions between the report’s findings and community leaders’ claims. According to Vijayendra, several community leaders reported that no data collectors had visited their homes. He further questioned the accuracy of the survey numbers, particularly from communities such as the Jains and backward classes, who had disputed the figures presented in the report.
Despite the criticism from the opposition, Siddaramaiah remains firm in his position, stating that the government will revisit the issue in the next cabinet meeting. The controversy over the caste survey continues to simmer, with both the ruling party and the opposition preparing for further discussions on the matter.
